I can get there from here. I can set my feet in motion, my senses heightened, through a play land made for man to the top of a hill where beyond the view of the bay beckons me into the hush of undisturbed forest on the backside of the mountain. It is within reach, this large tract of undeveloped land, providing wildlife corridors, places for animals to live out their lives in a relatively quiet place away from the influence of man.
I like that I can arrive at this place under my own power, soft footfall one in front of the other, gaining elevation until I am rewarded with my efforts. Rewarded as well with the ability to get away from it all into a place where my mind is cluttered with nothing but being in the moment. Noticing the leaves on the trees beginning their annual turn or how the trail underfoot is sandy. Wondering about the geological history behind how the sand I see on the distant lake shore continues to persist this far inland. There are so many questions about the natural world, how can one answer them all?
This coming winter I look forward to gliding along the cross country ski trails placed into this forest, discovering the land anew as it is washed in white, thankful that the resort near my home has left the backside of this mountain wild so that this natural paradise can be enjoyed by many. It wasn't too long ago that the Native Americans who lived on this land felt it was owned by all, wild animals and man alike, as there was no land ownership. It was refreshing for me to realize that today, despite the fact that the land I had traversed was owned by a large resort company, I could walk the trails and enjoy the views and feel in many ways that it was still held in this manner.
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